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Making a video game console takes a lot of spinning plates across several companies. The people that need to know important details know those details. Generally, unless you’re Microsoft trying to buy Activision Blizzard and possibly outing your biggest rival’s entire unannounced lineup unceremoniously, things remain top secret. Enter: PixArt. This SoC (or “System on a chip”, for those that don’t know) manufacturer has been involved in several previous Nintendo consoles. Their “CMOS image sensor SoC” chips and tech help power the motion sensors in JoyCon controllers. They’ve also made parts for both the Wii and the Wii U. Their catalog, when it comes to video games, has been primarily Nintendo as a client. Their latest financial report, unexpectedly but not surprisingly, had a very interesting tidbit mentioned. As reported this week by both Notebook Check and Chinese financial news site MoneyDJ, PixArt is helping a video game company with hardware. The manufacturer was super sneaky by not giving the name of the company. But, it might rhyme with "Bintendo". According to the financial report presented, PixArt is working with a “Japanese Game Console” that “will launch a new console that has not been seen for many years early next year”. Seeing their track record, it’d be really easy to connect those dots. However, as mentioned by Notebook Check, one could easily argue that it could be related to Sony’s “Project Q” and not Nintendo for the first time. Sony’s new upcoming portable hardware takes a page out of Nintendo’s playbook after all. Working against this theory is that Project Q is expected to possibly come out late this year as part of the holiday lineup. This would throw off the entire theory’s timeline. Coming out back in 2017, the Nintendo Switch has spent its geriatric years pretty well. Pikmin 4, for instance, just came out and is getting rave reviews across the board. So, are we expecting a Switch successor like the Switch 2 in early 2024? Is it Project Q that they’re helping build? Or could it be something else entirely? Only time will tell. Until then, take it all with a grain of salt. I hope the next Nintendo console comes with a Funky mode though.

Noise cancellation is a feature that is becoming increasingly popular in gaming headsets. It can be a great way to improve your gaming experience by blocking out distractions and immersing yourself in the game world. There are two main types of noise cancellation: passive and active. Passive noise cancellation is achieved through the use of materials that absorb or reflect sound waves. This can include thick earcups, closed-back designs, and foam padding. Active noise cancellation (ANC) uses microphones to detect ambient noise and then generates sound waves that cancel out the noise. So, which type of noise cancellation is better for gaming? It depends on your needs and preferences. Passive Noise Cancellation Passive noise cancellation is a simpler and more affordable option. It is also more effective at blocking out low-frequency noise, such as the hum of a refrigerator or someone talking in the other room. Passive noise cancellation works by using materials that absorb or reflect sound waves. Thick earcups help to block out noise by creating a physical barrier between your ears and the outside world. The thicker the earcups, the more effective they will be at blocking out noise. Closed-back designs also help to block out noise by sealing off your ears from the outside world. This is in contrast to open-back designs, which allow sound to pass through the earcups. Foam padding helps to absorb sound waves. The more foam padding there is, the more effective it will be at absorbing noise. Active Noise Cancellation Active noise cancellation (ANC) is more effective at blocking out a wider range of frequencies, including high-frequency noise. ANC works by using microphones to detect ambient noise and then generating sound waves that cancel out the noise. ANC headphones have two microphones: one on the outside of the earcups and one on the inside. The microphone on the outside of the earcups picks up ambient noise, and the microphone on the inside of the earcups picks up the sound that is being played back through the headphones. The two signals are then sent to a digital signal processor (DSP), which calculates the difference between the two signals. By creating a "mirror image" of the ambient noise and then playing it back out of the headphones in phase opposition, the two sound waves then cancel each other out, leaving you with a much quieter environment. Active vs Passive Noise Cancelation: Which is Right for You? If you are looking for a simple and affordable option that is effective at blocking out low-frequency noise, then passive noise cancellation may be a good choice for you. If you are looking for the best possible noise cancellation, even in noisy environments, then active noise cancellation may be a better option. Some factors to consider Budget: Passive noise cancellation is generally more affordable than active noise cancellation. Noise levels: If you are in a noisy environment, such as on an airplane or in a crowded room, then active noise cancellation may be a better choice. Battery life: Active noise cancellation can consume more battery power than passive noise cancellation. Sound quality: Some people believe that active noise cancellation can degrade sound quality. However, this is not always the case. Both passive and active noise cancellation can be effective in gaming headsets. The best choice for you will depend on your needs and preferences. If you are not sure which type of noise cancellation is right for you, then it is a good idea to try out a few different headsets to see what works best for you.

The developers actually listened to feedback about the first Nickelodeon fighting game Smash Bros clone Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2 gets a sequel in 2023 The developers actually listened to feedback about the first game For decades, the Super Smash Bros series dominated a very specific game type of the fighting game community. Where most fighting games were head-to-head, with health bars at the top of the screen, and standardized, Smash turned the FGC title into a party game. Super Smash Bros Ultimate was a defining moment, bringing back every single fighter that ever appeared in the series, plus many more. It was clear that the crown was ready to be handed off when they started to wind down development, though. Once other developers saw that development and support were both coming to an end, new titles were announced with the same genre of fighting game. Many major IPs have made attempts to capture Smash’s magic. Nickelodeon was one of them with Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl. The title was, as the younger generation would say, “mid”. It had promise but fell short of expectations. Claiming Smash’s crown wasn’t going to be easy. When the game dropped, it didn’t have voice acting at launch. For a game with a roster full of well-known cartoon characters, that was strikingly weird. While the gameplay and controls were pretty good, the entire game felt more like a quick cash grab than a serious threat to the throne. The developers, Ludosity and Fair Play Labs, as well as the publisher, GameMill Entertainment, took all of the feedback to heart. Today, they announced a sequel to the title, aptly named Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2. IGN got the early scoop for the game, and boy does it look 1000x better. The trailer makes a point to show off voice acting and even directly compares its visuals to the original game. They want fans to really know that they learned their lesson. They also showed off two new fighters joining the fray. You’ll be able to brawl has both Squidward (from SpongeBob SquarePants, if you’ve lived under a rock like Patrick for decades) and Jimmy Neutron (from, well, you get the idea). The game has a single-player campaign, too, where you have to stop the plans of Danny Phantom villain Vlad Plasmius. The trailer didn’t have a release date tied to it, with a release window of "Fall 2023". But, it’s going to be on every major platform when it comes out. Do you have any thoughts about this topic? Tell us in the comments below, or talk about it on Twitter. Don’t forget to tag us in the discussion! And don’t forget to subscribe to our weekly Patch Notes! Check out some other topics on GameCrate: I bring the Smoke: Mortal Kombat 1 shows off Smoke, Rain, and more Xbox gets a long-awaited feature: Voice reporting Toxic Destiny 2 “fan” owes half a million dollars to Bungie over harassment Xbox Live Gold to be retired in September, replaced with Game Pass Core

I love brawlers. There’s nothing like marching down a city street with a friend or two and beating the hell out of baddies. Lately we’ve seen several new instant classics in this space, but one series has struggled. Double Dragon Gaiden is a new twist on one of the OGs, a genre hybrid engineered to help Billy and Jimmy stand out again. By leaning hard on roguelike-style mechanics, we have a game that looks familiar but plays with a very different vibe. While some ideas are as frustrating as they are unique, there’s a commendable effort at building a bridge between the classic and the contemporary. Double Dragon Gaiden’s roguelike trappings are pretty standard. You pick upgrades between stages, earn a meta currency you can trade for unlocks and continues, and start over from the beginning if you lose. What isn’t standard is how the team at Secret Base shaped and molded brawler conventions to accommodate the roguelike stuff. The central idea powering it all is a meter you’ll be constantly managing in order to do just about anything. Special moves use meter, as well as a tagging mechanic that lets you interrupt enemy attacks to instantly swap characters. Depending on the upgrades you come across in a run the meter can be altered in ways that significantly change your options. Charging speed and skill cost are two examples, with the former eventually letting you string together multiple skills for spectacular combos. Meanwhile if the meter is spent, all you have is your basic attacking and throwing, leaving you noticeably vulnerable. The central idea powering it all is a meter you’ll be constantly managing in order to do just about anything. The meter is paired with a novel gimmick called Crowd Control. If you take out at least three enemies in a short time window, you’ll earn bonus money and a healing item. In addition to looking delicious, the items change and grow stronger the more dudes you take down. The action even comes to a halt entirely to reward you, giving a hilarious gravity to one of the oldest, most mundane videogame tropes. Crowd Control is the best option for healing and money, which may as well come with a giant, Looney Tunes-style “Do This Often” sign. What this does is, essentially, take a foundational aspect of brawlers and smash it, then rebuild it into a dramatically different shape. Positioning has been a crucial element in brawlers since the beginning, but now instead of simply avoiding damage you’ll be working to set up the most efficient meter use possible. And the game does everything it can to make that a huge pain in the ass. On purpose, of course, because roguelike. It’s a vibe fans of Double Dragon and other old school brawlers wouldn’t expect, and it takes getting used to. A huge part of the challenge is punishment. While most brawlers move fast and revel in chaos, Double Dragon Gaiden requires an uncanny care and patience. If you mess up you pay for it big time, especially in the game’s latter half. Many attacks have tons of whiff recovery, you can be stuffed out of most moves, and chaining skills together requires timing and again, positioning. Fumbling means taking damage, losing out on Crowd Control bonuses, wasting meter, and maybe costing the whole run. It’s a vibe fans of Double Dragon and other old school brawlers wouldn’t expect, and it takes getting used to. What gets frustrating is how outclassed you are compared to many enemies throughout the game. They can dodge, they have longer reach, and some have super armor. Being outnumbered is to be expected, but in Gaiden you can get juggled to death even if you try to tag out. Upgrades aren’t literal game-changers like in other roguelikes, so no matter how much money you spend a run can fall to pieces because the game decided you can’t touch the ground. Double Dragon Gaiden runs out of tricks very fast and leans hard on difficulty as the motivator. To Gaiden’s credit, there are several methods of getting through the game even for players who aren’t sickos. There’s a modular difficulty system that lets you tweak a surprising number of variables, and you can spend two kinds of currency to retry if you die. One being the regular money you get from punching stuff, two being a resource you also use to unlock characters and goodies outside the game. If you aren’t a completionist or art gallery enthusiast, it’s an easy choice to make. Even with the mechanical frustrations, I’d probably still have a pretty good time with this game if it weren’t for a bigger problem. Gaiden has four stages, and four bosses. Plus, as you can probably guess, some things that follow. The order you choose the stages changes a few things, such as how long the level is and how the bosses behave. Some of the boss variants have huge differences from the base versions, such as Machine Gun Willy getting a whole-ass helicopter. Wait, that sounds pretty rad, doesn’t it? It feels rad at first, when you realize what’s going on in your first couple attempts. Then, if you don’t simply breeze through like a Pro Gamer, the vibes go sour. Even with the differences, there’s a tangible lack of variety and that doesn’t mix well with Gaiden’s slow pace. The levels only change so much, and the changes themselves are static. Picking Machine Gun Willy’s stage third (I love typing that name out) gets you the same “you picked Machine Gun Willy’s stage third” level every time. But it isn’t just the level designs. Like I went over, the pace is slow. Having a Double Dragon challenge you like this is interesting and distinct, but when you factor in the upgrades, that novelty wears off. You can play as several characters, but their abilities don’t change. Just stats and math under the hood. And on the default settings, while Gaiden is hard that difficulty doesn’t really ramp up until the halfway point broadly speaking. So the gameplay doesn’t change much, it’s slow, the levels don’t change much either, and get pretty long. Roguelikes work because there are so many variables in nearly every part of the game. New weapons or powers, and pools of things like bosses and rooms the games constantly rearrange. You can play The Binding of Isaac a hundred times and each run will be tremendously different. Double Dragon Gaiden runs out of tricks very fast, and leans hard on difficulty as the motivator. So much of my experience was sleepwalking through most of the game, then getting punted around like a hackey sack towards the end. Once I finally won, I was done. I had no reason to keep playing, even though the game clearly wanted me to. Double Dragon Gaiden is an interesting game with a lot of creative ideas. We’ve seen roguelikes and brawlers mixed before, but not nearly as intricately. I could feel that spark of passion as I played. Unfortunately there are some key drawbacks that betray many of those neat ideas and really hamper the experience. From getting slapped out of defensive tags and juggled to death to subsequent runs feeling more and more like a grind, I had less fun the more I played. I love that Arc System Works has been producing cool, experimental games since snagging the Double Dragon and Kunio-kun/River City licenses. This one has a lot going for it, but stumbles toward the finish line. Pros: Unique gameplay concepts that feel fresh and thoughtful Lots of unlockable characters are full of cool newcomers and historical greats Cons: Lack of variety/variables weigh down the good parts Some of the combat mechanics feel unfair and unintuitive Score: 7/10 A copy of the game was provided by the publisher and played on Nintendo Switch. Online multiplayer was not available during the review period. Double Dragon Gaiden launches July 27, 2023 for PC, PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch.

The audio driver is the most important component in a gaming headset. It is responsible for converting the electrical signal from your gaming device into sound waves that you can hear. There are different types of audio drivers used in gaming headsets, each with its own strengths and weaknesses. Dynamic Drivers Dynamic drivers are the most common type of driver used in gaming headsets. They are relatively inexpensive to manufacture and can produce a wide range of frequencies. However, dynamic drivers can be bulky and heavy, and they may not be able to reproduce the highest frequencies as accurately as other types of drivers. Planar Magnetic Drivers Planar magnetic drivers are a more advanced type of driver that offers better sound quality than dynamic drivers. They are thinner and lighter than dynamic drivers, and they can reproduce a wider range of frequencies more accurately. However, planar magnetic drivers are more expensive to manufacture than dynamic drivers. Balanced Armature Drivers Balanced armature drivers are small, lightweight drivers that are often used in in-ear monitors (IEMs). They offer good sound quality and are very portable, but they cannot reproduce the lowest frequencies as accurately as dynamic or planar magnetic drivers. Hybrid Drivers Hybrid drivers combine the advantages of different types of drivers. For example, a hybrid driver might use a dynamic driver for the low frequencies and a balanced armature driver for the high frequencies. This can result in a wider range of frequencies and better sound quality than a single-driver headset. Which Type of Audio Driver is Best for Gaming? If you are looking for a headset that is comfortable to wear for long periods of time, and that produces a clear and accurate sound reproduction, then a balanced armature driver headset is a good option. However, if you are looking for a headset that produces powerful bass frequencies, then a dynamic driver headset is a better choice. Other Factors to Consider When Choosing a Gaming Headset In addition to the type of audio driver, there are other factors to consider when choosing a gaming headset. These include the size of the earcups, the type of connection, and the features that are included. Size of the earcups: The size of the earcups is important for comfort. If the earcups are too small, they will not be able to seal properly around your ears, which can lead to sound leakage. If the earcups are too large, they can be bulky and uncomfortable. Type of connection: Gaming headsets can be wired or wireless. Wired headsets are more reliable, but they can be restrictive. Wireless headsets offer more freedom of movement, but they can be more expensive and prone to interference. Features: Some gaming headsets include additional features, such as surround sound, noise cancellation, or a built-in microphone. These features can add to the cost of the headset, but they can also improve your gaming experience.

It’s been a truism that with every CPU and GPU upgrade, game designers have pushed the envelope and made use of every ounce of performance and then some. But RAM requirements had been holding steady. That’s starting to change. Read the requirements for the newest gaming titles and you’ll see the same increases in CPU and GPU recommendations. That’s natural, because as Intel and AMD produce faster products, game developers do everything they can to squeeze out every ou6eneration with anticipation of faster CPUs and GPUs to come. For the last ten years or more, the recommended RAM has mostly held steady at 16GB. That is starting to change. Today, several games are including 32GB of RAM in their recommendations, primarily for running at 4K and/or with ray tracing turned on. Here come RAM hungry games The following are a couple of examples of ultra-demanding games that might make you want to consider configuring your next PC gaming PC with 32GB, or upgrading your existing machine. Returnal Returnal originally recommended 32GB of RAM but took that back when the game was released. The implication is that 32GB is likely a good idea, but it’s a lot to swallow especially with DDR5 RAM being so expensive. Right now, its specifications show the following: Minimum CPU: Intel Core i5-6400 or AMD Ryzen 5 1500X GPU: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 6GB or AMD Radeon RX 580 8GB RAM: 16GB DDR4 Medium CPU: Intel Core i5-8400 or AMD Ryzen 5 2600 GPU: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1070 or AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT RAM: 16GB DDR4 Recommended CPU: Intel Core i7-8700 or AMD Ryzen 7 2700X GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 2070 Super or AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT RAM: 16GB DDR4 Epic CPU: Intel Core i7-9700K or AMD Ryzen 7 3700X GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 10GB or AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT RAM: 32GB DDR4 Ray Tracing CPU: Intel Core i7-11900K or AMD Ryzen 9 5900K GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 Ti or AMD Radeon RX 6590 XT RAM: 32GB DDR4 Diablo IV This title pushes the envelope when it comes to RAM requirements. Low-end CPU: Intel Core i5-2500K or AMD FX-8350 GPU: Nvidia GeForce GTX 660 or AMD Radeon R9 280 RAM: 8GB Medium CPU: Intel Core i5-4670K or AMD Ryzen 1300X GPU: Nvidia GeForce GTX 970 or AMD Radeon RX 470 RAM: 16GB High-end CPU: Intel Core i7-8700K or AMD Ryzen 7 2700X GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060 or AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT RAM: 16GB 4K CPU: Intel Core i7-8700K or AMD Ryzen 7 2700X GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080, RTX 40 Series for DLSS3, or AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT RAM: 32GB Which games benefit the most from more RAM? Even if a game doesn’t require 32GB, many will run much better than with 16GB. This is particularly true for multiplayer games where you can host your own server. In that case, you’ll want as much RAM as possible as you add more players. But that’s not the only kind of game where more RAM is helpful. Games with extremely immersive environments and ultra-high-quality graphics can use more RAM. This depends in part on how much VRAM (video RAM) your GPU has installed, because if a game’s graphics max out VRAM then the overflow goes to normal RAM. Games that use large maps can also take up more RAM. The larger the map, the more elements of the virtual environment that need to be stored. Some games have incredibly large maps that can use as much RAM as you’re willing to throw at them. Examples of games that can use a lot of RAM include Ark: Surival Evolved, Star Citizen, Galactic Civilization 3, and Microsoft Flight Simulator. Some of these are older games that have received updates over the years increasing their requirements for the best performance. While you can still get away with 16GB of RAM with most games, if you want to future-proof your gaming PC, then 32GB is the way to go. Can you allocate more RAM to a game? Windows 11 allows you to allocate more RAM to any program that needs it. That’s important if you’re multitasking, that is, if you’re running other applications along with your game. In fact, the more you multitask, the more RAM you’ll need. If you’re a heavy multitasker who also runs high-end games, then 32GB of RAM or more is a wise investment. To allocate more RAM to a game, you simply need to open the Windows Task Manager, select the Details tab on the left-hand side, right-click on the game’s executable, and select “High” under “Set Priority.” That will allocate more resources to the game, including RAM. Note, though, that this means your other background applications will receive less RAM. Again, that argues to add as much RAM to your PC as you can afford. The more RAM, the better (usually) As applications, not just games, become more complex and demanding, the need for RAM continues to increase. There was a time when 8GB of RAM was sufficient, but today, you’ll want to opt for at least 16GB of RAM. If you’re buying a laptop, then you’re probably stuck with whatever amount you buy up front, so plan carefully. Heavy gamers should start considering 32GB as the norm, especially if they multitask. And it won’t be too long before you’ll be required to run with 32GB if you want the best experience.

With summer in full swing, Audeze has revealed they will be teaming up with Microsoft again to release a limited edition headset for Xbox gamers. This isn't the first time the two have teamed up together, with Microsoft and Audeze teaming up in 2021 with the certification of Audeze's Penrose gaming headset. Fast forward a couple of years, and Audeze has a brand new headset coming with some changes I think gamers are really going to enjoy. Audeze is preparing to release a limited-edition gaming headset as part of Microsoft's "Designed for Xbox" summer product collection this year. This new "ultraviolet" version of the Maxwell gaming headset will have a new finish that gives a unique look to a headset that is already one of the best available on the market. The Audeze Maxwell Ultraviolet Xbox Wireless Gaming Headset is available for pre-order in limited quantities on the Audeze site. The continuation of this partnership is bringing Audeze's planar magnetic headset to Xbox gamers. For those who need to become more familiar with what audio drivers are in gaming headsets, planar magnetic headsets have a lot of advantages. Audeze brings a new planar magnetic headset to Xbox For starters, the design of this type of headset makes it less prone to harmonic distortion. The drivers perform better than traditional dynamic drivers by having a faster and more uniform motion. It does a great job at reproducing the full audible frequency spectrum and can have a nice balance of the characteristics of dynamic and electrostatic drivers. The way that this basically works is that the diaphragm mechanism is replaced by directly vibrating a large, flat film, allowing for more precision and range. The audio in a planar magnetic driver is caused by the electrical flow through the wires suspended between magnets. For these limited-edition Audeze headphones specifically, a color-shifting finish was applied to the headband and ear cups by using an electroplating process. Audeze's Maxwell Ultraviolet Edition wireless headset will also feature Bluetooth 5.3 with LE Audio, Dolby Atmos, and Filter A.I. noise-reducing microphone technology. That means that this new headset will be using the latest technology to deliver the highest quality audio available in a gaming headset. Do you have any thoughts about this topic? Tell us in the comments below, or talk about it on Twitter. Don’t forget to tag us in the discussion! And don’t forget to subscribe to our weekly Patch Notes!

Fry, Leela, and Bender head to Fortnite today We’re back, baby! This week has been big for Futurama fans. After a decade of cancellation, Futurama’s 11th season premiered on Hulu. But, the tie-in marketing to go along with it sees Matt Groening’s futuristic sci-fi show head to a less likely place as well: Fortnite. Futurama, for those that either have lived under a rock or are too young to remember it, was The Simpsons creator Matt Groening’s follow up show that originally released in 1999. It follows the story of pizza delivery boy Phillip J. Fry as he’s cryogenically frozen on New Year’s Eve 1999 and wakes up in the year 3000. Fry makes friends with a ragtag crew of a delivery service, including the one-eyed Leela and alcoholic robot Bender. They, among several other characters, go on adventures through space and (sometimes) time. I feel old writing these words, having watched the show during its original run. So, what crossover did Fortnite get with Futurama? Fry, Leela, and Bender skins are all currently available for purchase in the Item Shop on Fortnite. They look like they were ripped directly out of the show and retain their animated look, similar to the Rick and Morty skins. Each skin comes with the main skin, an alternate color of the skin (each being a reference to the classic episode The Farnsworth Parabox), and a back bling. Fry comes with a Hypnotoad back bling. Leela’s rocking Nibbler on her back, while Bender’s son Ben Rodríguez dangles from Bender’s back. You can also pick up three pickaxes based on the show, purchased separately. These include the solid gold fiddle, an unbendable girder, and a giant nutcracker. The references involved with this are all incredibly deep cuts to the show. But wait, there’s more. The Planet Express ship, the crew’s trusty spaceship, is now available as a glider. But, the best part is that Zoidberg’s Scuttle is available as an emote to purchase. This is going to get me to start playing Fortnite again, isn’t it? Seasons 1 through 10 of Futurama are all available on Hulu, if you didn’t know. Season 11 premiered this week and the first episode is available as of this writing, also on Hulu. The Fortnite crossover items are available right now on the Item Shop. Let’s go already! Do you have any thoughts about this topic? Tell us in the comments below, or talk about it on Twitter. Don’t forget to tag us in the discussion! And don’t forget to subscribe to our weekly Patch Notes! Check out some other topics on GameCrate: I bring the Smoke: Mortal Kombat 1 shows off Smoke, Rain, and more Xbox gets a long-awaited feature: Voice reporting Toxic Destiny 2 “fan” owes half a million dollars to Bungie over harassment Xbox Live Gold to be retired in September, replaced with Game Pass Core

New accessibility options are always great, especially when it comes to Xbox controllers Microsoft generally has some slam dunk options for accessibility and customizability when it comes to Xbox controller options. Sometimes you get full Adaptive controllers for accessibility, sometimes you get a controller that smells like pizza. This time around, the recent patch notes released shows that they’re allowing players to map keyboard keys directly to their Xbox controllers. (Image: Microsoft) In the release notes for the Alpha Xbox Insiders, they revealed a new function for both the Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2 and the Xbox Adaptive Controller incoming. Keyboard Button Mapping allows games that are designed specifically for a keyboard and mouse setting to be played on a controller. If you’re a PC gamer, there’s a high possibility you play games on a controller attached to your rig. The majority of games automatically have controller support. However, some don’t. They require a keyboard and mouse and nothing else. This can prove to be problematic for people with limited mobility and capability in their hands. This would make those that require a controller (and especially those requiring the Xbox Adaptive Controller) be left out from a gaming experience. Now, that just won’t do, will it? This is clearly in early stages of testing, as it’s being released to the Xbox Insiders “Alpha” ring, which is the earliest place that the public can try to features and functions. Currently, it only works with some games entirely, some games partially, and some games not at all. If you’re a member of the Xbox Insiders, you can try out the new feature by following these steps: Open the Xbox Accessories app Configure Create a new profile or edit an existing one Select a button to map Choose Primary or Shift Then move over to the new Key tab You can only map a single key to a button at a time. But, you can add modifier keys to it. They use the example of being able to do Ctrl+Alt+W, but not Ctrl+Alt+W+E in the release notes. Also: if you’re rocking your controls using Bluetooth, you need to plug in for the feature to map on PC currently. If you want to become an Xbox Insider, poke around over on their official FAQ. For a complete set of their release notes, you can check their official blog. Do you have any thoughts about this topic? Tell us in the comments below, or talk about it on Twitter. Don’t forget to tag us in the discussion! And don’t forget to subscribe to our weekly Patch Notes! Check out some other topics on GameCrate: Xbox gets a long-awaited feature: Voice reporting Toxic Destiny 2 “fan” owes half a million dollars to Bungie over harassment Xbox Live Gold to be retired in September, replaced with Game Pass Core Keep your Ubisoft account active: You (won't) lose all of your games (UPDATED)

Well Pikmin fans, you’ve been waiting a long time for this. Yes, Pikmin 4 has finally arrived, and it’s only been ten years since Pikmin 3 was released on the Wii U. Not too long a wait, right? I haven’t been waiting for nearly as long. Having never played a Pikmin game myself, I’m not exactly a fan of the series. I’d always stayed away due to the titles being real-time strategy games — not a genre that I’m fond of at all. Yet, something about the charmingly detailed world Nintendo kept showing off in advertising footage for Pikmin 4 got me intrigued. Now, having given the game a go, I can gladly say that it’s one of my favorite titles in the entire Nintendo Switch catalog. The adorable idea that the Rescue Corps needs rescuing sets the tone for the game’s story which is constantly lighthearted and fun. Set on a distant and hostile world, recurring series character (and regular Super Smash Bros. participant) Captain Olimar has crash landed and is in dire need of rescue. Naturally, the Rescue Corps is on their way. Until they also crash land and become marooned on the planet. Nice flying, folks. Finally, you are sent to rescue the Rescue Corps and, eventually, Captain Olimar. The adorable idea that the Rescue Corps needs rescuing sets the tone for the game’s overall story which is constantly lighthearted and fun. Each character has clearly defined personalities, and hearing them exchange jokes, banter, and ideas at the base camp is always enjoyable. It might feel too long to some, but the game’s tutorial does a nice job of explaining a load of ideas all at once. How to start expeditions, exploring caves, gathering and using resources, and, of course, bossing around the titular Pikmin. Controlling your little plant-like buddies couldn’t be any simpler. Throw them out one by one with the A button, send them en masse with the X button, and call them back to you by moving them within range of your whistle with the B button. It’s that easy. I’m sure what makes it really easy is just how well-programmed the Pikmin are as they never once got lost or did anything that I didn’t want them to do. In fact, I was constantly surprised by how efficiently their AI would find something to do if they were close enough to it. When I started the game, I was mindlessly hurling all of my Pikmin at any problem I faced, but it’s when I embraced the game’s teachings of Dandori that it became tremendously fun. As Pikmin 4 says, “Dandori is the art of organizing your tasks strategically and working efficiently to execute your plans.” Organizing may not be your idea of fun, but you need to try it with Pikmin. Everything you do in Pikmin 4 feeds into its immaculately designed core gameplay loop, and it’s absolutely shining when you’ve got loads of things going. My absolute favorite moments in Pikmin 4 were when I’d successfully divided my Pikmin pals to do a handful of things at once. That squad of red Pikmin are using their fire resistance to destroy a little flame geyser, those blue Pikmin are carrying a pile of raw materials back to the base, and those yellow Pikmin are leveraging their electrical immunity to kill a Bearded Amprat before bringing its corpse back to the base for even more materials. Everything you do in Pikmin 4 feeds into its immaculately designed core gameplay loop, and it’s absolutely shining when you’ve got loads of things going. Now, perhaps you’re thinking, “What was that I just read about a ‘corpse’ in this cute Nintendo game with adorable, little Pikmin?” Yes, that’s one of the game’s most charming qualities. There’s a slightly grim undertone to the battles you and your Pikmin get into. The vast majority of the creatures you encounter would love nothing more than to gobble up as many Pikmin as possible. So, you’ve got to get them first. Nature’s beautiful, isn’t it? This isn’t news to veteran players, but you will lose Pikmin. They get squished, munched, and, if you’re not quick enough to rescue them, drowned, electrocuted, or set ablaze. There’s plenty of the fellers to grow, however, so no matter how badly your heart is wrenched by their tiny cries of anguish or their little spirits that you see floating heavenward, you must press forward. There’s oodles of treasures to discover and collect, Dandori Time Trials and Battles, tower defense missions that are carried out at night, a Piklopedia of endlessly imaginative creatures to fill, and plenty of other stranded explorers to save. With your surviving Pikmin, you’ll find loads and loads to do. There’s oodles of treasures to discover and collect, Dandori Time Trials and Battles, tower defense missions that are carried out at night, a Piklopedia of endlessly imaginative creatures to fill, and plenty of other stranded explorers to save. Yes, more than just the Rescue Corps! It seems that this desolate planet is a hot spot for crash landings, and saving as many castaways as you can will reward you with plenty of side quests, materials, and upgrades for your doggie companion Oatchi. Yes, I’ve saved one of the best parts for last. Along the entire journey, the oddly cute rescue pup Oatchi will provide you with loads of assistance. He can transport things, fight enemies, gather your Pikmin, sniff out objectives, and give you and all your Pikmin a ride. You can even switch between controlling your character and Oatchi to get even more done. Oatchi is, indeed, a very good boy. What isn’t good, is the game’s co-op mode. Player two controls nothing more than a reticle that shoots tiny pebbles, and it doesn’t really add much beyond a way for you to entertain anyone that needs babysitting. However, the game does allow you and a second player to go head-to-head in fun little Dandori battles which are as delightful as they are crazy. Even after the credits roll in Pikmin 4, there’s a bit more to the story and brand new areas to explore. From the delightfully textured world that’s brimming with secrets to the tiniest details, like how your Pikmin will occasionally sing classic Pikmin songs when riding Oatchi, Nintendo has packed the game with enough personality and whimsy that it could easily keep fans happy for another ten years. Of course, we certainly hope Pikmin 5 will come a lot sooner. Pros: ● Fantastic core gameplay loop ● Loads to collect and discover ● Controlling Oatchi and Pikmin is easy and endlessly enjoyable ● An impressively large number of wonderfully designed foes ● A charming story with fun characters ● Hyper-detailed and beautiful worlds to explore Cons: ● The co-op mode is tacked-on and shallow Score: 10/10 Reviewer played on Nintendo Switch Pikmin 4 is available now on Nintendo Switch

Insomnic Games’ first installment of Spider-Man back in 2017 accomplished doing whatever a spider can but left out some awesome abilities that Marvel’s main man showcased in other games. These 10 blasts from the Playstation past would give the highly anticipated sequel set for PS5 release on Oct. 20 a strong shot in the Spider-arm. Turning Evil (from Spider-Man: Web of Shadows) Image: Activision Publishing Peter Parker lives by the “with great power comes great responsibility” mantra. Web of Shadows explored an irresponsible, not-so-friendly neighborhood Spider-Man. Results proved that it feels good to be bad sometimes. Peter Parker pulls off a black suit well, and whether in gaming with Web of Shadows or “Civil War: Back in Black comics where Spidey finally snaps, great stories are to be had. Symbiote Attacks (from Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions) Image: Activision Publishing Fully embracing Spider-Man’s dark side includes completely weaponizing the black suit. Unfortunately, most Marvel games treat it as either a lifeless alternative skin or a generic power buff. Shattered Dimensions broke the macabre mold by making attacks in the suit unique. Melee became rangier. Players felt the rage the symbiote suit builds. We like Spidey when he’s angry! Rampaging as Venom (from Ultimate Spider-Man) Image: Activision Publishing Who doesn’t want to play as a badass brute with a booming voice and louder explosions? Count us in whenever Spider-Man’s coolest foe appears in a game! Ultimate Spider-Man fed our appetite for destruction by allowing us to devour cars and citizens as Venom. The rampage escalated to attack helicopters as players racked up points for wrecking everything in sight. The simple, arcadey activity fit the game’s vibe. A modern expansion flexing Venom’s symbiote strength in 4K would be sweet. What-If Mode (Spider-Man (2001) from Neversoft) Image: Activision Publishing Imagine fighting for your virtual life against Carnage, when suddenly, his voice rises to Whitney Houston levels. Suddenly, Spider-Man wants to dance with somebody. This urge leads to randomly busting a move on a disco floor or in a toxic lab with Black Cat. These fever dreams become reality after beating the first PlayStation Spider-Man game or entering the “GBHSRSPM” cheat code to unlock the “What-If Mode.” The alternative version of the campaign stuffed the story with cameos, quirky pop culture references, giant bananas, and whatever else most gamers wouldn’t think of. The MCU’s brand of humor matches the game mode perfectly. Co-Op play (from Spider-Man: Friend or Foe) Image: Activision Publishing Double the trouble for AI creates double the fun for gamers. Many of Spider-Man’s best games revolve around supergroups or unlikely alliances. Unfortunately, Insomniac confirmed Spider-Man 2 won’t feature co-op. However, interactions where Spidey gets help from his friends or foes adds variety to the gameplay. Finishing moves (Marvel Nemesis: Rise of the Imperfects) Image: Electronic Arts Sometimes, if you want the job of knocking out bad guys done right, you have to do it yourself. Spider-Man finishes fights by leaping onto his opponent’s shoulders for 3 punches, flipping in the air, and pouncing onto his opponent as a special move in Marvel Nemesis: Rise of the Imperfects. Save the fatalities for Mortal Kombat, but powerful knockout sequences increase heroic immersion. Crossover Character Challenges When it comes to games and movies, the more Marvel, the merrier. Previous Spider-Man games included surviving Deadpool’s attacks as part of a reality show in Shattered Dimensions and racing the Human Torch in Ultimate Spider-Man. Getting into a snapping contest with Thanos wouldn’t feel so good, but there are endless ways to get Spider-Man involved with guest characters. Pizza Delivery (Spider-Man 2) Image: Activision Publishing Activision took “Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man” literally by switching Peter Parker from photo taker to order taker. Winning this challenge sent Spidey web-slinging across Manhattan to deliver pizza to strange places in under three minutes. We’ve never heard of a real person ordering pizza in a speedboat. That said, we guarantee you won’t reach your full PlayStation potential until you’ve delivered pizza as Spider-Man. Comic book styling (from Ultimate Spider-Man) Image: Activision Publishing Pop quiz: what year did Spider-Man debut? The year was 1962 — four decades before the first live-action Spider-Man movie. Spidey’s comics told some of the best stories in Marvel history. Ultimate-Spider Man paid homage to the terrific comic book run that spawned the franchise. The story unfolded through comic panels. The artwork resembled graphic novels. Acclaimed Spider-Man comic writer Brian Michael Bendis wrote the game’s story. A similar setup has all the makings of a really cool DLC. Bruce Campbell Narrations (Spider-Man 1, 2, and 3) Image: Shutterstock Who doesn’t want Ash Williams teaching us how to beat up evil forces trying to eat us again? Final Thoughts Swinging away from kidnappers, kingpins, and Kraven doesn’t allow time to look back. Although Spider-Man can’t see what’s behind him, we advise Insomniac to consider the past in order to create the best Spider-Man game yet.

Update 7/25/2023 12:00 AM: Ubisoft has made some updates to the official help page about this. If you have an active Ubisoft subscription or have purchased any PC games digitally through their service, you are not eligible for deletion. So, if you have games on your account, you're good. The original article: A user over on X (AKA Twitter) was recently sent an email stating that their Ubisoft account was “temporarily suspended” and that it was going to “permanently” close in 30 days due to inactivity on the account. The reason for this is really more to do with GDPR procedure from Europe, as opposed to anything nefarious. Image: Ubisoft An account closure does sound scary. You’ll lose your entire account in that case, including any and all games, purchases, and unlocked items tied to that account. But, how can it get that far? According to Ubisoft in 2021, they don’t mark accounts for inactivity for four years. According to the company, you will be informed if you are marked as inactive. What do I do if my Ubisoft account is inactive? According to an X (previously known as “tweets”) put out on X (previously Twitter), Ubisoft has an easy solution for those marked for death. If you get the email that the X user got, need have no fear. You just need to log into your account and click the “Cancel Account Closure” link that they provide in the email. You’re done. You can now forget about your account again for four years. How do I avoid Ubisoft trying to close my account altogether? This one is easy. Go log in to your Ubisoft account right now. You can do it through Ubisoft.com or use the Ubisoft Connect client on PC. That’s it. It doesn't matter if you have 8 games or 80. It's worth logging into Ubisoft real quick while it's on your mind. For those of us old enough to understand this reference: it’s basically like jiggling the mouse to keep your screensaver from popping up. Either way, don’t worry. It’s nothing you need to worry about and if you are marked as inactive on Ubisoft, it’s easy to fix. Update 7/25/2023 12:00 AM: Ubisoft has made some updates to the official help page about this. If you have an active Ubisoft subscription or have purchased any PC games digitally through their service, you are not eligible for deletion. So, if you have games on your account, you're good. Do you have any thoughts about this topic? Tell us in the comments below, or talk about it on Twitter. Don’t forget to tag us in the discussion! And don’t forget to subscribe to our weekly Patch Notes! Check out some other topics on GameCrate: I bring the Smoke: Mortal Kombat 1 shows off Smoke, Rain, and more Xbox gets a long-awaited feature: Voice reporting Toxic Destiny 2 “fan” owes half a million dollars to Bungie over harassment Xbox Live Gold to be retired in September, replaced with Game Pass Core